Obama: “Create a “startup visa” for job-creating entrepreneurs. The proposal allows foreign entrepreneurs who attract financing from U.S. investors or revenue from U.S. customers to start and grow their businesses in the United States, and to remain permanently if their companies grow further, create jobs for American workers, and strengthen our economy.”

Feld/Kedrosky: We also think science and engineering graduates should get visas stapled to their diplomas. You complete your higher education here, you get to stay so that you can get out and create jobs, innovate, and grow the economy. Uncle Sam wants you, if you’re a prospective entrepreneur.

Obama: “Staple” green cards to advanced STEM diplomas. The proposal encourages foreign graduate students educated in the United States to stay here and contribute to our economy by “stapling” a green card to the diplomas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) PhD and Master’s Degree graduates from qualified U.S. universities who have found employment in the United States. It also requires employers to pay a fee that will support education and training to grow the next generation of American workers in STEM careers.

Fred Wilson, who has also been a vocal leader for these initiatives, expressed his appreciation that these issues are now part of the national immigration reform discussion in his post The Startup Visa.

Mazel tov to you and everyone else who helped bring this about. Now it just has to pass.

http://www.feld.com bfeld

Indeed!

tryingtocalmdown

Interesting how the elections have consequences. Good to Flake, a conservative from AZ, demonstrate that the Repubs have moved on issues regarding immigration. Wonder how or if Harry Reid stops it? With Flake, he brings hopefully at least 10-15 Repubs. House will be the problem but doable

Wahbi_M

Nice job Brad

Appeos

Great news and thanks to all involved who have worked hard to get this far.

It has been a long time coming and I remember getting excited about the Startup Visa idea when it was first mentioned, back in 2009.

I hope it gets to pass this time around, as I’d love to be at the front of the queue when it officially launches. I’ve been running my own businesses in the UK since I was 9, but my next one is a great fit for launch in the USA.

I’ve been to the USA lots of times on business and on vacation and I always think “Who wouldn’t want to live here, raise a family here, grow a business? It’s the greatest place on earth.”, but up until now the Visa issue has prevented me. Hopefully, that will change soon.

narikannan

Great ideas both! Thanks Brad for pushing these. We also need to watch out for unintended sequences like “fake investments” and encouraging an already problematic “diploma mills” turning out worthless degrees for willing, moneyed folks abroad just for getting a green card. The safeguards in these laws are worth paying more attention than the worthwhile , well meaning intent!

http://www.aaronfyke.com Aaron Fyke

This is a very salient point. Because dilution of quality will result in a backlash hurting the very group this policy intends to support.

Sanjeev Srivastav

“from qualified U.S. universities” should provide some safeguards.

http://www.facebook.com/tomhigley Tom Higley

Brad, I’m glad to see this begin to get the traction it deserves. I know you have worked long and hard for this.

http://www.feld.com bfeld

Thx Tom. I appreciate the support.

http://www.facebook.com/wteele Walter Teele Vera

We educate ourselves in the U.S. We bust our asses to create companies that innovate and create jobs. Yet we face this bullshit paper barrier that sends everything to hell. What you’re doing is awesome Brad, thanks for pushing the Startup Visa..